CGAP Announces Winner of Photo Contest in 10th Year

CGAP Announces Winner of Photo Contest in 10th Year

PR Newswire, Washington, D.C., October 27, 2015: CGAP today announced its 2015 Photo Contest winner as Sujan Sarkar of India. The winning photo, called “Paddy Cultivation”, was chosen from more than 3,300 entries from 77 countries for its breathtaking composition and immersive quality. The photo showed workers in a paddy field in West Bengal, India capturing one of the key themes of the contest - smallholder farmers and their families. The panel of three judges said Sarkar’s photo symbolized the family’s livelihood, home, and how they support themselves.

There are 2 billion people around the world who lack access to formal financial services. Over the past decade, the annual CGAP Photo Contest has sought to document the struggles and successes of those who are often excluded from the financial system. Said Greta Bull, CEO of CGAP: “The Photo Contest enables us to show in a very visual way the resilience and challenges facing the working poor. It puts a face on financial inclusion and the work we do.”

The 2015 CGAP Photo Contest invited submissions in four key areas that are instrumental to advancing financial inclusion: (1) Digital financial services and mobile banking; (2) Women’s use of financial services; (3) Microfinance for small business enterprises; and (4) Smallholder farmers and their families.

The panel of judges comprised of Nicole Crowder, Photo Editor for The Washington Post’s photography blog, In Sight; Corinne Dufka, Associate Director at Human Rights Watch and an award-winning photographer; and Leena Jayaswal, Director of Photography Program and Associate Professor at the American University in Washington, D.C.

Through a highly competitive process, the judges selected two other finalists, thematic and regional winners, and special mentions. Liming Cao of China’s photo, “Fishing with a Net,” won second place, for its beautiful framing, unique softness, and evocation of movement. The third place prize was awarded to Pranab Basak of India for the photo, “Hands for Freedom” which the judges agreed captured the essence of love - something that is “hard to photograph.”

The People’s Choice Award went to Vikash Singh of India, whose photo, “Farming Lady,” earned more than 200 votes online.

The 2015 Grand Prize winner will receive a $2,000 gift certificate for photography equipment and a display of his winning photograph on the Times Square Jumbotron in New York City.